Full Court Press Summer 2024

 

Contents

• Message from the State Courts Administrator
• State of the Judiciary
• Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence
• Preserving History One Portrait at a Time
• Judicial Branch Budget for FY 2024–2025
• Responding to Trauma in Family Court Cases
• Accessing Justice at the Ground Level
• Problem-Solving Court Month Throughout Florida
  • Ryan Leaf Visits the Treatment Courts of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit
  • Volusia County's Evolving Landscape of Problem-Solving Courts
  • Polk County Holds Annual Problem-Solving Courts Graduation Ceremony
• Bay County Teen Court Celebrates 30 Years
• Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Expedites Civil Traffic Cases
• One for the Archives
• Turning Points
• Around the State

A Message from the State Courts Administrator

With the annual hurricane season at the halfway point, we have already been reminded of the need for preparation and vigilance during hurricane season. Hurricane Debby was less destructive than Hurricane Idalia in 2023, but Debby took a similar path to Idalia and impacted much of the Third Judicial Circuit again. Court operations were disrupted in 24 counties, but the disruptions were mainly for a single day, and damage was generally minimal. The dedicated chief judges and court administrators do an excellent job of balancing the need to keep the courts open as much as possible while also ensuring the safety of the public and court users.

This edition of the Full Court Press includes information about the judicial branch budget for the 2024–2025 fiscal year, which began on July 1. The legislative budget request for the judicial branch was almost entirely funded, and I am grateful for the Legislature’s and the Governor's ongoing support for branch needs and priorities. The cycle continues, however, and work on the judicial branch legislative agenda and budget request for the next fiscal year is already underway.

We hope that callers from outside the Florida Supreme Court and OSCA have not noticed, but we recently transitioned from our legacy telephone provider to using Microsoft Teams phones. While this transition has taken a great deal of work, we believe that the implementation has been largely seamless for people contacting the Court and OSCA. We look forward to utilizing the increased functionality and versatility offered by the new system. Special thanks go to the “Teams Team” in the Office of Information Technology and the Communications unit for their exceptional management of this complex project, effectively coordinating the various moving parts and interests involved.

One element of the Long-Range Strategic Plan for the Florida Judicial Branch is a focus on maintaining a professional, ethical, and skilled judiciary and workforce. One way we do that is through continuing education and professional development, so I was very proud to join OSCA staff and their families at their recent graduation from Florida State University’s Certified Public Manager program. Completing this challenging program demonstrates their commitment to professional development, and the knowledge and skills they have acquired will no doubt benefit OSCA and enhance our ability to serve the judicial branch.

- Eric Maclure

State of the Judiciary

At The Florida Bar’s annual convention this June, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz delivered the annual “State of the Judiciary Address,” which emphasized a culture of excellence, teamwork, and public service.

Chief Justice Muñiz began his remarks by thanking outgoing Bar President Scott Westheimer for his service to the Bar over the past year and said he looked forward to another constructive year working with incoming Bar President Roland Sanchez-Medina, Jr., and Executive Director Joshua Doyle.

With the state budget for the next fiscal year having been recently approved, Muñiz thanked the leadership of the Florida Legislature for the support they have shown the judicial branch by meeting its critical funding and staffing needs.

Turning to the state of the judiciary, Muñiz noted that no justices left the Florida Supreme Court over the last year, which was a refreshing period of stability on the Court. He stressed the importance of those in the judicial branch being focused on service and having a mindset of equality before the law, evenhandedness, and impartiality to all.

One of the branch’s major ongoing efforts to better serve the public is to accelerate the resolution of civil cases. To that end, numerous changes to the rules that govern civil cases are currently being implemented or considered, along with giving judges more responsibility to manage and efficiently resolve cases. Muñiz noted that the timely resolution of civil cases will continue to be a priority for the judiciary.

Regarding the legal profession, Muñiz encouraged Bar members to find ways to mentor new lawyers and help to instill in them the importance of professionalism in everything they do. He noted that the increased reliance on remote hearings has left newer lawyers with fewer opportunities to learn these valuable skills from their more experienced peers. Leading by example, Muñiz took time during the convention to meet with the Young Lawyer’s Division and discuss their mentor program.

Overall, Muñiz encouraged those in the judicial branch and the legal profession to work diligently and do the best they can to serve the public. He said, “I think if we focus on excellence, teamwork, and service that we’ll continue to have a healthy and vibrant judiciary in the state.”

Chief Justice Muñiz Presents the 2024 Judicial Excellence Awards

Judge Sherri L. Collins of the Palm Beach County Court is the recipient of the 2024 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence. Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz presented the honor at the annual education program of the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida. The presentation of the award to the circuit judge recipient was expected to happen at the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges annual business and education conference; however, the conference was cancelled due to Hurricane Debby and the presentation of the award is now planned for late September.

Judge Collins joined the Palm Beach County Court bench in 2016 and now serves in the trial division.

The Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence, established in 2015, recognize one county court judge and one circuit judge who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the judicial branch and who personify judicial excellence, embodying qualities such as strength of character, integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, and sound judgment.

Judge Collins has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to improving the administration of justice. Her notable accomplishments include establishing the 15th Judicial Circuit Mental Health Court. She has also taken on important leadership roles, such as volunteering as administrative judge for the Criminal Division and serving as chair for education of the Conference of County Court Judges.

"Judge Sherri L. Collins exemplifies the culture of excellence we strive for in Florida's judiciary,” Chief Justice Muñiz said. “Her dedication to improving the administration of justice, particularly through the establishment of the Mental Health Court and her commitment to judicial education, demonstrates the kind of leadership and public service that strengthens our entire judicial system. Judge Collins' work, both on and off the bench, embodies the qualities of integrity, fairness, and compassion that are essential to maintaining public trust in our courts."

Judge Collins has shown a strong commitment to judicial education through her role in teaching courses at the National Judicial College and various other judicial programs. She has also held numerous leadership positions within the Conference of County Court Judges.

Her commitment to mentorship and fostering the next generation of legal professionals is equally noteworthy. She leads mentorship activities for young lawyers and law students, actively participates in a summer intern program for college students interested in law careers, and spearheads an annual mock trial competition in the circuit. These initiatives demonstrate Judge Collins' ongoing efforts to support and guide aspiring legal professionals, providing them with valuable experience and insights into the judicial system.

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Collins served as an assistant state attorney in the 16th and 15th judicial circuits. She earned her law degree from the University of Florida College of Law and earned her bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Florida.

Preserving History One Portrait at a Time

Submitted by Mark Miller, Executive Director of the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society

The Florida Supreme Court’s portrait gallery is expanding, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society. The portrait gallery is the court’s largest and most historically significant collection of art featuring paintings of each Florida justice, starting with the first justices to serve the state under the newly adopted Constitution in 1838.

As part of the portrait tradition, each sitting justice’s portrait is displayed in the Supreme Court’s room known as the Lawyer’s Lounge until they retire from the Supreme Court bench. Their painting is moved to the courtroom when they retire from practicing law.

However, this tradition nearly came to a standstill in 2013 when then-State Courts Administrator Lisa Kiel realized there were limited discretionary funds in the court’s budget to commission paintings of the four most recently appointed justices. So began a collaboration with the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society, which enthusiastically agreed to commission those four portraits and three additional paintings.

To ensure the collection remains current, the Historical Society is now commissioning a series of seven additional portraits of former and current justices: former Justice Barbara Lagoa, former Justice Robert J. Luck, current Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz, Justice John D. Couriel, Justice Jamie R. Grosshans, Justice Renatha Francis, and Justice Meredith L. Sasso.

Recently, former Justice Robert J. Luck’s portrait was completed by Cyd Wicker, a Minnesota-based portrait artist who has painted commissioned portraits of several federal court judges and three U.S. presidents. Additional portraits of current justices are scheduled to be unveiled at the Historical Society’s annual dinner on Jan. 16, 2025, in Tallahassee.

“The Florida Supreme Court Historical Society is pleased and honored to commission the official portraits of the justices as part of our mission to preserve and honor the history of Florida’s highest court,” said Historical Society President Fred Karlinsky. “Each portrait captures a moment in time and brings us face-to-face with a chapter of the court’s history.”

In addition to commissioning official portraits of the justices, the Historical Society supports education and outreach programs, publishes books chronicling the history of the Florida Supreme Court and the award-winning Historical Review magazine, and facilitates collecting and archiving historical documents and artifacts. To learn more about the Historical Society’s programs and activities, visit FlCourtHistory.org.

Judicial Branch Budget for FY 2024–2025

On June 12, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis approved the FY 2024–2025 state budget of approximately $116.5 billion. The approved budget for the judicial branch either partially or fully funded the items requested in the branch’s legislative budget request, except for funding to initiate the development of a courthouse for the recently created Sixth District Court of Appeal and a request for trial court case management technology.

The funds appropriated to the judicial branch for the next fiscal year amounted to $741.3 million, which makes up less than 0.65% of the total state budget. Funding for the judicial branch budget consists of $625.5 million in general revenue and $115.8 million in trust fund dollars. In total, the judicial branch budget increased by $30.6 million over current fiscal year funding ($710.7 million), and staffing increased by an additional 101 full-time positions.

State Courts Administrator Eric Maclure said, "The State Courts System always strives to be a good steward of state resources, while also identifying outstanding budget needs. We are grateful for the Legislature’s and the Governor's ongoing support and the provision of increased critical funding and staffing.”

Part of the judicial branch’s legislative budget request sought increased funding and staff positions for court interpretation, court reporting, transcription, and expert witness services in the trial courts. The Trial Court Budget Commission has identified quickly growing needs for these important court services, which are essential to providing court users with due process in their cases. The final approved state budget partially funded the judicial branch’s request and will be instrumental to meeting the needs for these critical services.

The state budget also included a 3% salary increase and retirement enhancements for all state employees, which includes judicial officers and judicial branch employees.

Some additional budget items related to the administration of justice include:

• More than $442 million in funding to support behavioral health services. The funds will improve access to mobile response services, increase rates for providers, provide direct services, help expand the behavioral health workforce, and support collaboration between primary care and behavioral health providers.
• $93.2 million in additional funds to support those served or in danger of entering the child welfare system. The funds support foster parents and caregivers and expand access to post-adoption supports for young adults adopted from the dependency system.
• An increase of $7.2 million, for a total of $12.5 million, to support prevention efforts and to provide additional services to victims of human trafficking. The funds will provide housing for survivors to support their recovery and increased staffing to enhance prevention services.
• More than $800,000 and 9 FTE to address the decline in victim advocate positions funded by grants that were established by the Victims of Crime Act in the Guardian Ad Litem Office.

Spending authority for FY 2024-2025 began on July 1, 2024.

Responding to Trauma in Family Court Cases

A unique collaboration among the Office of the State Courts Administrator (OSCA), the Florida Bar Family Law Section, and providers from the therapeutic community delivered a highly successful series of workshops focused on understanding and responding to the trauma that is frequently present in family law cases. The regional workshops, called “Moving Toward a Trauma-Responsive Court,” began in Jacksonville on November 16, 2023, and recently finished in Fort Myers on June 7, 2024.

Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Jack Helinger has taught locally on trauma-responsive courts for years, but he felt that courts throughout the state could benefit from understanding the impact of trauma in family court cases and learning successful ways to address it. He said, “The more we educate people about this, the better. I continue to say it's everything we did not learn in college, law school, or our initial jobs. Any of us who spend a period of time in the Family Division soon realize that this is the most important thing we do.”

To pursue this idea, Judge Helinger reached out to Sarah Kay, who was the chair-elect of the Florida Bar Family Law Section at that time, to discuss the possibility of working together to bring a training on trauma-responsive courts to a wider audience. As an attorney who focuses on family law cases, Kay was interested in the idea and received enthusiastic support from the members and leadership of the Family Law Section to pursue the project.

Next, the Office of the State Courts Administrator (OSCA), with Court Education and the Office of Family Courts, were engaged to help plan and coordinate the trainings, and a framework for a series of regional trainings began to take shape.

With the development team in place, the workshop agenda and the training materials were created with the help of a group of experts. At each of the workshops, the agenda and training materials would remain the same, but the regional training teams consisting of volunteer judges, attorneys, and clinicians from the psychological community would change with each location to promote local buy-in and provide local context. Leigh Merritt, who supported the trainings in her role with OSCA’s Office of Family Courts, said, “Each regional training was actually taught by people from that region who were able to bring their own knowledge of local issues and resources to the training. This approach resulted in tailored trainings that were more meaningful to each audience.”

Sarah Kay described the workshops coming together as “a byproduct of a massive amount of collaboration and cooperation across multiple organizations and professionals.” She also noted that the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers provided administrative support in payment processing that allowed non-court personnel to attend the workshops.

In total, approximately 800 people, including attorneys, court staff, clinicians and providers, judges, and magistrates, attended the trainings. Participants learned to identify the signs and symptoms of trauma; recognize adverse childhood experiences; describe the impact trauma has on their work, their professional self-care, and the impact on the people they work with; and ultimately how to shift their approach to family cases with these issues in mind.

With workshops held in 11 regions throughout Florida, Judge Helinger said, “We certainly raised the level of awareness throughout the state, but if that's all we did, then we would not consider these to be nearly as successful as we had hoped. It was our goal that each individual area would continue to talk and meet and share and do what they can to become not only a trauma-informed court but a trauma-responsive court.”

Kay noted that follow-up meetings with each of the host sites have recently begun, and information about revised practices, new collaborations, and ongoing partnerships is already coming in. The courthouse in Jacksonville created a family waiting room to provide a comfortable space for children who may have to be brought to court while their families see a judge. Participants from Gainesville and Kissimmee are planning on holding local follow-up events on trauma and family law. A seminar on reunification therapy is scheduled to take place in Hillsborough, County. Finally, a compendium of innovative and successful practices from across the state is in the process of being developed to easily share information among stakeholders.

Based on participant feedback and the ongoing efforts of the workshop sites, the regional trainings have clearly produced momentum to address trauma in family court cases and have achieved their goal of moving toward a trauma-responsive court.

Accessing Justice at the Ground Level

Submitted by Chief Judge Lisa T. Munyon, Ninth Judicial Circuit

The Ninth has a long history of leveraging technology to improve the administration of justice. We’ve led the way with Virtual Remote Interpreting, creating one of the nation’s most sophisticated on demand simultaneous remote interpreting systems. Couple that with our digital evidence presentation and video conferencing systems and you get a fully integrated technological courtroom that streamlines hearings, improving access to justice. But for all our focus on technology in the courtroom, we failed to fully utilize it on the way to the courtroom.

Nearly 8,000 people walk through the doors of the Orange County Courthouse on an average day. Of that number, only a fraction is here for a hearing. The majority come looking for services provided by the Clerk of Court. Others are looking to talk to someone in the State Attorney or the Public Defender’s office. Then there are those who inadvertently come here looking for Orange County or State services that are provided at other locations.
Enter wayfinding.

Historically, wayfinding at the courthouse was strictly analog. Volunteers manned the information booth in the rotunda and signage was scattered about the building. People were left to navigate this huge tower with minimal guidance or assistance. Our first foray into utilizing technology for wayfinding didn’t occur until 2016 when we installed digital docket boards flanking the information booth. Vertical screens display the daily docket while the touch enabled horizontal screens display navigational information.

After establishing a digital wayfinding system, we shifted our focus back to the courtroom and kept it there. Of course, COVID had a hand in determining that focus, but only to the extent that it dictated what technology we brought in. However, while COVID spurred the development of virtual technology, revolutionizing access to justice, it also gutted our volunteer program, hindering access at the ground level.

This concurrence of enhanced and diminished access to justice proved just as problematic as you might expect. We spent decades exploring every technological avenue and implementing every viable option to improve the courtroom experience, only to realize that these advancements are irrelevant if people don’t know how to get to there. Having grossly underestimated the role wayfinding plays in accessing justice, we needed to switch our focus from the courtroom to the rotunda. We needed to build access from the ground up.

Building a wayfinding system that can support everyone walking into the courthouse is no small task. someone where to go for a passport, what courtroom their hearing is in, or that the tax collector’s office is in another building. The people are as diverse as the reasons that brought them here. Some are residents, others visitors. Some are overwhelmed and frightened, others angry and contentious. Some have limited English proficiencies, reading abilities, or comprehension capabilities.

The position’s sole responsibility is to serve everyone who walks into the courthouse and that service goes beyond providing directional information. The liaison is the first point of contact for many, informing their impression of our courts.

Recognizing that one person can’t serve the thousands who come to the courthouse, it was paramount to invest in technology. Starting with the existing touch screens, we launched a fully interactive navigational wayfinding app in June. The user-friendly interface–available in English and Spanish–allows users to search the daily docket, look up services, or access the FAQ. Acknowledging that any navigational system is only as good as the information entered, we chose software that allows for updates in real time. No matter whether someone prefers to use technology or speak with the liaison, we’ve built a wayfinding system that can truly serve everyone.

We’ve come a long way utilizing technology on the way to the courtroom. And we’ve come a long way prioritizing accessing justice at the ground level. As of my writing, we’re preparing to test free-standing touch screen kiosks. It’s my hope that, when you read this, we’ll be preparing to install those kiosks in the rotunda. The next time you are at the Orange County Courthouse, check out our digital navigation wayfinding system. Let us know what you think. And be sure to stop by and say hi to our court user liaison.

Problem-Solving Court Month Throughout Florida

In 1989, Florida started the national problem-solving court movement by creating the first drug court in the United States in Miami-Dade County. Other types of problem-solving court dockets followed, using the drug court model, and were implemented to assist individuals with substance use and mental health disorders, and related challenges. 

This May, Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz issued a proclamation recognizing the month as both Problem-Solving Court Month and Opioid & Stimulant Use Disorder Awareness Month. The proclamation notes the public health crisis attributable to the use and misuse of opioids and stimulants while recognizing the vital contributions that problem-solving courts make to address these challenges.

The following articles show some of ways that problem-solving courts are making an impact throughout Florida.

Ryan Leaf Visits the Treatment Courts of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit

Submitted by Sara Miles, Public Information Officer, Twentieth Judicial Circuit

In honor of National Treatment Court Month, we are thrilled to recognize the incredible work of our treatment courts here in the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Recently, we had the privilege of hosting Ryan Leaf, a former NFL player turned mental health advocate, at our Lee County Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Veterans Treatment Court event on May 14, 2024.

“Ninety percent of what success would be is just showing up,” said Ryan Leaf. “That last 10 percent is what you do when you are there.”

Ryan shared his inspiring journey and valuable insights with our participants in Courtroom 1A at the Lee County Justice Center. As the CEO of RAM Consultant, Inc. and a football analyst for Westwood One Sports, Ryan brings a unique perspective to the conversation around mental health and substance use. His impactful story, featured in the podcast "BUST: The Ryan Leaf Story," bravely confronts stigma and promotes understanding.

"It doesn’t matter if you are a starting NFL quarterback or if you are graduating drug court today; we are all the same. We don’t get viewed the same a lot of the time, and that’s because of the perspective someone brings to the table,” said Leaf.

Ryan Leaf was drafted as the second overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and was seen as a promising star. However, his career took a different turn, leading to an early exit from the NFL.

After leaving football, Ryan struggled with an addiction to prescription painkillers. This led to an arrest for burglary and drug possession in 2012, which culminated in a 32-month prison sentence. In prison, Ryan began to rebuild his life. His experience with addiction and recovery has equipped him with an understanding of the challenges individuals face in overcoming substance use disorders.

"You see, once you do the work, you see the self-help from it, and you understand and develop the skills that you can get through anything if you want to," said Leaf. “90 percent of it is showing up. You show up, you do the work. If you fail, you get back up, and you do it again.”

Ryan's visit to our treatment courts was a powerful reminder of the importance of support and understanding in the journey to recovery. We are grateful for Ryan's visit and his contribution to raising awareness about mental health and substance use issues. Each year in May, as we celebrate National Treatment Court Month, we are reminded of the vital role that our treatment courts play in providing hope and a path forward for those in need.

Volusia County's Evolving Landscape of Problem-Solving Courts

Submitted by David Hunt, Court Communications Officer, Seventh Judicial Circuit

In Volusia County, a transformative initiative continues to make a positive impact on the lives of many, steering them away from the destructive path of substance abuse and toward a future of hope and productivity. The Volusia County Drug Court program, currently led by Seventh Judicial Circuit Judges Elizabeth Blackburn and Kathleen McNeilly, is a shining example of how justice can be restorative.

Under the leadership of retired Circuit Judge Edwin Sanders, the Volusia County Drug Court was established in 1997 and has been a pioneering force in Florida since. Its unique approach, a form of therapeutic jurisprudence that includes supervision, drug testing, counseling, treatment, sanctions, and incentives, has successfully guided 1,320 individuals through this rigorous yet supportive process, helping them reclaim their lives.

Drug Court reduces the costs associated with incarceration while lowering recidivism rates. It saves taxpayer dollars and contributes to a safer community. Most participants who complete the program become productive, law-abiding citizens. They gain employment, reunite with their families, and actively participate in society, breaking the cycle of addiction and crime.

Judge Blackburn has presided over the East-Volusia Drug Court since 2022. Judge McNeilly just recently began her assignment with the West-Volusia program. These judges, along with a dedicated team of professionals, work closely with program participants to provide them with the needed support and resources. This collaborative effort ensures that participants receive comprehensive services addressing their legal, social, psychological, and vocational needs.

The team members’ commitment to the program stems from their dedication to seeing individuals transform their lives and their belief in the potential for change and growth in every person. The success of the Drug Court is a collective effort.

The success of the Volusia County Drug Court has spawned the creation of additional problem-solving (treatment) courts to address unique needs within the community. The Volusia County DUI Court was established in 2012 and focuses on defendants charged with impaired driving offenses. The Volusia County Veterans Court was launched in 2013 and aims to address the unique challenges faced by justice-involved veterans.

As the problem-solving court landscape in Volusia County continues to evolve, the future looks promising. Procuring additional funding and resources to address mental health issues and expanding post-program aftercare support are a few examples of the steps being taken to ensure long-term program viability.

Under the watchful eyes of many dedicated jurists, the Drug Court program is a shining example of the positive impact problem-solving courts can have on a community. It stands as a testament to the power of community collaboration.

Volusia County proclaimed May as Problem-Solving Court month to coincide with recognitions throughout Florida and the nation.

Polk County Holds Annual Problem-Solving Courts Graduation Ceremony

Submitted by Tracy Skeen, Directory of Community Relations, Tenth Judicial Circuit

Problem-Solving Courts throughout Florida joined the Florida Supreme Court, Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Cabinet, and Polk County’s Board of County Commissioners in recognizing May 2024 as Problem-Solving Court Month and Opioid and Stimulant Use Disorder Month.

To commemorate the outstanding efforts of all who are involved in our Polk County Problem Solving Courts and our program participants, we recently held our annual Problem-Solving Courts Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in the Oliver L. Green, Jr. Courtroom located in the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow, Florida. The Honorable Dennis Ross delivered the keynote address, and Circuit Judge Susan L. Barber recognized our Veteran and Peer mentors. The following Tenth Judicial Circuit judges and administrative staff presented themselves to congratulate our recent graduates: Chief Judge James A. Yancey, Circuit Judge Susan L. Barber, Circuit Judge William D. Sites, Polk County Administrative Judge Stacie L. Kaylor, Trial Court Administrator Nick Sudzina, Problem-Solving Courts Director James Clanton, and Problem-Solving Courts Administrative Assistant Marla Grove.

Bay County Teen Court Celebrates 30 Years

Submitted by Amber Baggett, Chief Deputy Court Administrator

In May 2024, the Bay County Teen Court Program celebrated 30 years of serving the youth of Bay County. To recognize this occasion, the program received two proclamations—one from the City of Panama City and one from Bay County.

Teen Court works by receiving referrals of first-time offenders with misdemeanor charges from local Law Enforcement Agencies, School Resource Deputies, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the State Attorney’s Office. Student volunteers and jurors then handle the cases while gaining a unique insight into the legal system and the inner workings of a courtroom. All sanctioned defendants receive from 16 to 32 hours of community service as part of their sanctions and complete the hours through “Project Make a Difference," which is a lawn service for local elderly, disabled, and hospice patients. Participants gain a sense of accountability for their actions and better understand the detrimental impact of their criminal behavior. Overall, the Teen Court Program has an 85.5% success rate.

The Teen Court Program was started under the direction of then-Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Judge Judy Pittman Biebel. The program is based on the philosophy that juveniles judged by a true jury of their peers are less likely to continue their unlawful behavior. With the help of teen volunteers who serve as the prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, clerk, and jurors, the defendants in the program achieve a true understanding of the consequences of breaking the law and are held accountable for their actions. To date, Teen Court has served 9,886 youth in Bay County.

Teen Court is held the first four Tuesdays of each month at 5 p.m. in the Bay County Teen Court Courtroom. Teen Court is always looking for dedicated youth and adult volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please call (850) 747-51291 and speak with Director Suzanne Cox or Assistant Director Kara Gibbs.

Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Expedites Civil Traffic Cases

Submitted by Trial Court Administrator Barbara Dawicke

Palm Beach County Court Judge Ashley Zuckerman presides over a beneficial program in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit entitled, The Civil Traffic Conditional Plea Program. The program was created in August of 2020 and offers defendants who have a civil traffic infraction, not arising from a traffic accident, the opportunity to file a “Conditional Plea of No Contest and Waiver of Appearance” and seek a withhold of adjudication. Upon review by the presiding judge, if granted, an “Order Granting Conditional Plea of No Contest” is entered, and the defendant will not incur points on his or her driving record, but the defendant may be required to satisfy a financial penalty.

The goal of the specialized program is to assist qualified defendants with an expeditious resolution of their civil traffic citation without the need to appear in court and without accruing points on their driving records. As such, the program relieves defendants of the need to take time off work for a court appearance and conserves judicial resources by resolving the case without a hearing. From January 2021 through July 2024, Judge Zuckerman has closed more than 7,698 cases through the program.

For additional information about the program, please visit the circuit’s webpage at http://15thcircuit.com/services/traffic.

One for the Archives

Visitors to the Florida Supreme Court know Erik Robinson as the man in the rare books room who would sometimes appear in the clothes of an attorney from the 1800s and share his first-person interpretation of some of Florida’s legal history. His main role, however, has been as the Court’s archivist, but he has had an interesting connection to courts and history throughout his career.

In his native Illinois, Robinson attended Eastern Illinois University, which was one of the first universities in the country to offer a program in museum curating and archiving. He also worked as a historic site superintendent, which included two courthouses where Abraham Lincoln had worked as a lawyer early in his career. It was in this position that Robinson began to provide visitors with first-person historical interpretation, essentially taking on the appearance and persona of a person from that time period and interacting with guests from that historical context.

Robinson came to Florida when an alumnus from his university program needed help at the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee. In that role, Robinson was responsible for the restoration of the Florida Supreme Court chamber in Florida’s Historic Capitol Building and was also involved with creating additional displays that explain the three branches of government. He would go on to serve as curator of the museum for more than 20 years.

After his work at the museum, Robinson found his next role as the archivist at the Florida Supreme Court. While museums primarily deal with three-dimensional displays, archives mostly deal with two-dimensional documents. Archivists are also a distinct professional niche from librarians in that they often deal with papers and documents that serve as a foundational resource for books and not the books themselves.

Robinson said, “I look at it from a historian’s point of view.” The goal is to preserve the source material so that future generations of researchers have access to original documents that add detail and nuance to understanding our shared history. He said, “Preserving records is a foundational thing that saves the primary documents for future generations.”

The Florida Supreme Court Historical Society is inextricably tied to the Florida Supreme Court archives. Robinson explained that they work together to collect, preserve, and retain the historical records of the justices of the Florida Supreme Court. He noted that the justices are often interested in the Court’s own history, and many of them have shared their documents with the archives over the years.

After serving nearly 19 years as the archivist for the Florida Supreme Court, Erik Robinson retired in June. Jacklyn Attaway has been hired as the new archivist, and Robinson said he is excited to see her contributions to the future of the archives, including managing the new landscape of handling digital records. Meanwhile, he looks forward to having time to enjoy the many things that life in Tallahassee offers.

Turning Points

May 1, 2024, to August 31, 2024

Judicial Appointments

Judge Kansas R. Gooden
Third District Court of Appeal

Judge Chris Bufano
Liberty County Court

Judge Robert Pickens III
Seventh Judicial Circuit

Judge Adam Lee
Alachua County Court

Judge Rachelle Williamson
Polk County Court

Judge Kevin Hellmann
Miami-Dade County Court

Judge Lillian Ewan
Nineteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Deborah Cunningham
Collier County Court

Retirements and Resignations

Judge Robert Panse
Palm Beach County Court

Judge John J. Murphy III
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Nancy Maloney
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Kathryn Nelson
St. Lucie County Court

In Memoriam

Judge John Carballo
Pinellas County Court

Judge Carol E. Draper
Osceola County Court

Awards and Honors

Justice Peggy A. Quince (retired)
Supreme Court of Florida
2024 Medal of Honor Award, Funding Florida Legal Aid

Judge Thomas P. Thompson, III
Marion County Court
The Harvey Ford Award, Conference of County Court Judges of Florida

Judge Declan P. Mansfield
Sixth Judicial Circuit
2024 J. Larry Hart Justice Award, West Pasco Bar Association

Judge Frederick L. Pollack
Sixth Judicial Circuit
2024 John U. Bird Judicial Excellence Award, Clearwater Bar Association

Judge Margaret Schreiber
Ninth Judicial Circuit
2023-2024 Jurist of the Year, Florida Association of Women Lawyers
2024 Jurist of the Year, Central Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates

Judge Eric DuBois
Orange County Court
2024 James G. Glazebrook and Mark L. Horwitz Professionalism and Service Award, The George C. Young American Inn of Court

Judge Mary Catherine Green
Polk County Court
2024 Jerry A. DeVane Professionalism Award, Lakeland Bar Association

Judge Stanford Blake, retired
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
2024 Selig I. Goldin Memorial Award, The Florida Bar Criminal Law Section

Judge Jason Dimitris
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Child Protection Award, One Child International

Judge Richard Hersch
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Honorable Gerald Kogan Judicial Distinction Award, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Miami Chapter

Judge Lourdes Simon
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
2024 Jurist of the Year Award, Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates

Judge Betsy Alvarez-Zane
Miami-Dade County Court
Judicial Excellence Award, Florida International University College of Law

Judge Steve Leifman
Miami-Dade County Court
Fran Peacock Coker FLABOTA Community Service Award, Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates

Judge Stephen Walker
Twelfth Judicial Circuit
2024 Meenu T. Sasser Outstanding Jurist Award, Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar

Judge Michael Baggé-Hernández
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
Judge Amy Karan Award, Conference of County Court Judges of Florida

Judge Charles E. Burton
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
Civility Award, Project Nuremberg

Judge Sherri L. Collins
Palm Beach County Court
2024 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence, Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz

Judge Christopher Sprysenski
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
Judge of the Year, Seminole County Bar Association

Judge Kimberly Davis Bocelli
Lee County Court
Judicial Award, Lee County Association for Women Lawyers

Around the State

Published under the direction of Director of Public Information Susan Emmanuel.

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